The aim of this article is to explore the phenomenon of gifted migrants in vocational training and education. To date, migrant apprentices have been predominantly discussed from a deficit perspective. Special attention has been given to competence insufficiency and underperformance, as well as to mi…
The aim of the paper is to locate the role of social and emotional support during the schooltowork transitions of apprentices, within the Australian vocational education and training context. The research reported here is based on an independent evaluation of an apprentice suicide prevention and s…
Purpose – Due to recent bottlenecks in the apprenticeship market the transition from general schooling into the German employment system has become more and more problematic for many pupils over the past years. In particular, young persons with migrant backgrounds, low academic achievement or missin…
Purpose – This paper aims to describe an instructional study of three cases of work-based education students (in co-operative education in Canada), described by their teachers as ranging from high achieving to low achieving. Design/methodology/approach – The three students are given metacognitive in…
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that the quality of learning in German apprenticeships can be increased without raising costs under certain conditions. It starts with a contextual description of apprenticeship in the dual system, showing that this insight is of central importance, sin…
Purpose – This introduction to the special edition aims to focus on the issues that surround putting work-based learning into practice in the UK. Design/methodology/approach – The introduction is a brief survey and commentary on the issues surrounding work-based learning. A selection of papers is dr…
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) have been criticised in some quarters (in 2002, only 40 per cent of work-based learning (WBL) providers were deemed adequate). Things are improving but there is still much to be done. This paper addresses this issue. Support for Success, a Learning and Skills Development…
Sets out the issues peculiar to the Scottish workforce in sport and fitness, play and the outdoor sectors. Provides an exploration of the development of vocational education in the form of sector skills training for these sectors in opposition to that formal education provided at further and higher …
The question of how to develop human capabilities to meet current and future needs of organisations has become an important issue at national, organisational and individual levels. An essential ingredient is shared understanding of the skills and competences deemed necessary and/or desirable for cur…
This article presents the results of a qualitative study that examined the views and experiences of 12 large city employers of modern apprenticeships (MAs). Given the government's target that by 2004 at least 28 per cent of young people should enter an apprenticeship before the age of 22, it is impe…
In Australia, as in many other countries, initiatives are constantly being developed which aim to assist school students’ transition into work. One such initiative, which was introduced towards the end of the 1990s, was the introduction of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, often referre…
All too often discussion of Capability proceeds as if it is clear what ‘Capability’ is: and that all that is required is the ascertaining of means for developing it. This paper seeks to explore the meanings of Capability. It provides two broad meanings, and discusses the paradoxes inherent in the ap…
Presents a perspective on vocational learning that proposes that vocational competence is dependent upon dispositional development, which in turn, results in moves towards maturation. Reports research with unemployed adults engaging in vocational training and resulting in four findings. First, while…
Contextualises a number of concerns related to the usage of National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications by both employers and employees in Britain. It provides an analysis of the main factors that are likely to affect the ways in which the newly formed Learning and Skills Council interacts with …
Looks at the nature of workplace learning, stating that there is a concern about the link between it and the classroom. Examines the transition from training to work by means of research carried out among two cohorts of students from a private vocational training college in Australia. Concludes that…
Examines the use of micro-businesses for undergraduate placements on business and management courses. Such businesses are often not considered for placements by HEIs because graduates have tended to obtain employment in larger organisations. However, the graduate labour market is changing and micro-…
One of the traits which distinguish the German dual system of vocational education and training (VET) from most training systems in the world is the voluntary contribution of companies towards it, in both practical and financial terms. Obviously, the craft sector is a training segment within the dua…
National training packages have become the mandated framework for course delivery in Australia's vocational education and training sector. Each training package contains: qualifications that can be issued, industry-derived competencies, and assessment guidelines but do not contain an endorsed curric…
It is considered that work related learning involves learning through work; learning about work; and learning for work. This paper examines the importance of work related learning for business students in the 16-19 curriculum and how this can be integrated into an Advanced Vocational Certificate of …
Reports on the evaluation of a programme which was designed to enable students to complete a traineeship or apprenticeship, and their senior certificate in accordance with a variety of combined school and work programmes, including the New Apprenticeship Scheme. A multimethod approach was adopted wh…
